2002 Dodge Ram no spark 5.9

Ok so this is for all the people googling the question as to what the hell is wrong with their dodge. As to I also kept googling the issue with mine and could not find nothing but finally me and the mad scientist finally figured it out!!!

Started with the truck drove fine until I got home and shut it off. The following morning it would not start. It will crank all day long till the battery died. Just would not start. I've checked that thing for fuel pressure even tho I can hear the fuel pump turn on. Fuel was good and was getting delivered. Fuel gauge would hold the pressure till I realized it. So next is checked for spark. No spark going to any of the 8 plugs. So checked the coil. No spark coming from the coil. So checked for power at the connection to the coil and nothing. No power there. So I looked up on the turn on and off the key 3 times to read a code and nothing would happen. Odd I know so it lead me to believe it was a bad PCM. But before I changed the PCM I decided to change the crank sensor. That was a pain in the ass job but I did it. Only to find out that it did NOTHING for my no spark problem. Checked fuses and swapped relays, Next I chAnged the cap and rotor for shots and giggles. And still nothing. Next I bought a new coil and still nothing. Next I bought a cam sensor/pick up coil. And STILL NOTHING. so I decided to go ahead and send my PCM in for check up and get the damn thing fixed. A long 2 weeks and finally my PCM came in the mail. I plug it in and I almost junked the damn truck cause it still did not want to turn on only crank. So me and a friend decided to check the connections. This is for everybody out there that Google this problem on their dodge. I say this because I have for 3 weeks and I couldn't find nothing just other people googling the same thing and same ol answer to change the PCM, the crank sensor , the cam sensor/pick up coil, the wires, the ASD relay, ect.....

There was a couple of bad wires under the fuse box that's located under the hood. It's the number 87 pin on the fuse box and number 3 on the black and grey pin on the PCM connector. There was no continuity through that wire. So people pull your fuse box out its very simple. Couple of bolts and there's enough wore there where you don't even have to disconnect the connectors. The way the wires are ran in there there's a bend and in time they get dry rotted on the sleeve and the wire gets to looking like the post of your battery. I connected that wire and it's alive again. Good luck peeps I hope this helps.

9 Answers

Also forgot to mention that checking for codes
with the key turn on then off, turn on then off, then
turn on and leave at on to reveal the code did not
work until that wire was fixed. Not I can read for
codes.

If this is the cure for all our crank-no-start issues, you are the MAN OF THE YEAR! Can you tell me more about the wires? I don't see a number 87 pin in my manual on any of the connections on the PDC(fuse box under the hood), do you know the wire color or it's function? My PCM has 3 32-pin connectors. Which connector and pin and wire color is it? I have a 2001 1500 5.9L. friartuck@windstream.net

I may have found it on the schematics. Is it a 14 gauge, dark green/orange wire from the ASD RELAY pin 87 in the PDC (Fuse Box under the hood) that goes to the PCM connector 3, pin 12?
That is 12 volts that tells the PCM that the ASD Relay has been energized, in addition to powering a lot of the sensors and devices on the engine.

The one thing you guys didn't mention, was
if you have no spark to the coil that there is
a pick up coil underneath the distributor
cap. It's a plate with two wires coming out
of it, and if you're not careful when you
replace the distributor cap you can break
the pick up coil And then you will have no
spark in your system.

Whatever you do always, always ckeck your wiring before buying expensive parts. In my case it was the pesty squirrels that made a chew toy out of my dodge. I was going to start looking for a another vehicle as I do not use my truck every day but when I need it I do not want to use my newer truck for pulling my lawn mower and hauling wood or whatever, so I am happy it is up and running perfect now.

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